ADAMA UK has launched a new slug pellet which uses the company’s novel molluscicide active ingredient, Feralla, to deliver rapid-stop feeding of all slug species.

Approved for use on all cereal, vegetable, grass ley and high value broad-field crops, Ferrabait^® slug pellets contain a complex proprietary formulation of 12 ingredients including 1% w/w Feralla (elemental iron) which is toxic to slugs and causes rapid cessation of feeding. Ferrabait pellets also contain a blend of high-quality wheat flours which ensure optimum pellet palatability, and humic acids which stimulates rapid feeding. The pellets also boast class-leading levels of longevity thanks to ADAMA’s unique manufacturing process.

“Following on from the success of our Gusto IRON (2.94% w/w anhydrous ferric phosphate) slug pellets, Ferrabait is manufactured using ADAMA’s Desidro^® wet processing and two-stage drying technology,” explains Catherine Whaley, Product Development Area Manager for ADAMA in Central and North Europe.

“This proven manufacturing system produces pellets with the ideal balance of persistence in wet weather and palatability over a longer duration. As such, Ferrabait pellets remain mould-free and  palatable for longer than other slug baits. Meanwhile, the inclusion of humic acids improves the taste appeal of the new pellets encouraging slugs to feed quickly and fully, thereby increasing consumption rates.”

As soon as a Ferrabait pellet is ingested, the elemental iron is solubilized in the slug’s stomach and in the lobes of the hepatopancreas digestive gland. This causes rapid pathological changes within the slug’s digestive system which makes the slug less mobile and causes feeding to stop almost immediately. “As soon as a lethal dose has been ingested, mortality quickly follows, with field trials showing Ferrabait to have a considerably faster speed of kill compared to other commercially available molluscicides,” Catherine adds.

Proven spreading accuracy

“Like our previous slug baits, Ferrabait is manufactured to tight processing specifications to ensure each pellet is of a uniform size, shape, weight, consistency and colour,” Catherine continues. “At a size of 2.5mm by 2.1mm, Ferrabait pellets spread accurately to wide operating widths and provide the optimal number of baiting points (40-50 pellets per m²) when applied at typical field rates. Ferrabait pellets are also certified for use with a wide range of the most commonly used applicators.

“In contrast, smaller ‘mini’ pellets, which have a larger comparative surface area and therefore tend to degrade more rapidly in wet conditions, don’t spread as accurately at wider spreading widths, while larger pellets provide too few baiting points.

“Similarly, smaller pellets can be less effective due to the requirement for slugs to ingest more than one pellet to receive a lethal dose. Conversely, trials have shown that slugs need to eat less than one pellet of Ferrabait to receive a lethal dose, leaving the remainder of the pellet available for the next slug to feed on and giving greater longevity of control from one application.”